Draymond Green declines player option as Warriors prepare to pursue LeBron James and Anthony Davis

Draymond Green is reportedly declining his $27.7 million option with the Golden State Warriors, according to ESPN's Shams Charania.

The move technically allows Green to enter the free-agent market. It also affords the Warriors to do a longer-term deal with him at a lesser annual value, giving them the flexibility to pursue LeBron James in free agency and Washington Wizards center Anthony Davis via trade to potentially create a new veteran-heavy, star-filled lineup around Stephen Curry and Green, as Yahoo Sports' Kevin O'Connor reported Sunday.

O'Connor reported that a trade for Davis would likely have to include Jimmy Butler, who is on an expiring $57 million contract while recovering from a torn ACL.

The Warriors would also have to include draft capital — they have two future firsts and four first-round swaps to work with in any deal. …Sources say the Warriors hope adding Davis would help lure LeBron from Los Angeles to the Bay Area once free agency officially opens Tuesday. The pitch would be simple: reunite with AD, team up with Curry and Green, play for Steve Kerr, and chase one more championship with a roster of legends.

Green's decision gives the Warriors more salary-cap flexibility and additional time to pursue James and Davis. Whether the Wizards are open to trading Davis remains to be seen.

James reportedly has yet to receive an official contract offer from the Los Angeles Lakers, who are working to reshape their roster around Luka Dončić. Center Deandre Ayton exercised his $8.1 million player option to remain with the team for the 2026-27 season, but the Lakers are still expected to pursue a more viable option to start at the position.